Where can you buy your own tropical island paradise?

AS the weather cools many dream of a tropical island get away. Imagine if you actually owned your own island, there are plenty on offer, check out where.

Quoin Island, Queensland.

EVER fancied owning your own little slice of island paradise?

You might be surprised how many there are to choose from and how cheaply you can do it.

Even radio stars Hamish and Andy, are currently negotiating a long-term lease on an island

off the Queensland coast.

According to island real estate specialist Richard Vanhoff of Coldwell Banker there are plenty of islands to choose from around Australia and not all of them have huge price tags (although quite a few do).

ONE of the cheaper islands on the market, Temple Island is priced at $850,000.

The leasehold of Temple Island, a 8.7ha island, 3km off the coast of Central Queensland comes with a price tag of $850,000.

The tropical island has its own private airstrip and there is a four-bedroom highset home.

The sale includes a tractor and slasher, a 1986 Range Rover, ride on mower, solar hot water system, a generator and a boat.

The island has white sandy beaches. The leasehold has another 20 years before it needs to be renewed.

TURTLE Island has been on the market for a number of years.

Mr Vanhoff says most islands which are for sale are leasehold, although freehold opportunities did still exist.

“We’ve got three freeholds that we are dealing with at the moment, one is Turtle Island it is quite a large island, 9.41 ha of pure botanical island, that is just off Gladstone.’’

That island comes with a price tag of $5.7 million.

It has a 600sq m home with views to the east over surrounding islands and beyond to the Great Barrier Reef.

The island has its own private jetty and the home has its own guest wing with three separate cedrooms, a lounge room, bathroom and veranda. There is also an inground swimming pool.

The main house has a large kitchen and entertaining rooms within the main house including a pool room and music room.

THE beach at Quoin Island.

Not far from that is Quion Island. Only a third of the island is for sale, covering about 4.86 ha.

The land on the north facing island, just off Gladstone, is undeveloped. There is a ferry that will dock onto the island three times a day if required, as it passes Quoin Island on its route to service other areas within the region.

Mr Vanhoff says the owner had once held all the island, but he had divided it into three. One portion is a resort, in the middle is some accommodation and the north side is vacant.

It is on the market for $1.95 million.

Uranga Island just over the New South Wales border is another freehold island for sale for between $5 million and $6 million.

“It is a property that you can do a lot of things with, particularly build your own runway, resort and airport,’’ Mr Vanhoff says.

“We have got some in Victoria, we have got an island called Stone Island, it is a pretty island, just off the coast of Hastings, the owner is wanting somewhere between $5 million and $6 million. It has got an old farm house on it, a barn-looking type farmhouse.

“It has not been lived in for a number of years, it needs a bit of work but it is a pretty property.’’

Mr Vanhoff says there is also Elizabeth Island not far from Stone Island, although the owner has recently taken it off the market, he will still consider offers.

Goodnight Island.

Just off Nowra in New South Wales is Goodnight Island.

“It is a beautiful island, it used to be an old resort years ago, it is not out in the ocean it is tucked in the inlet there.’’

Mr Vanhoff says islands could often take some time to sell.

“The price is prohibitive generally even for someone who has come into a bit of money or sold something, it is still a bit high too high for them.

“Although Quion and Turtle any reasonable offer will buy them, they (the owners) are very keen to sell.’’

He says those looking to buy are not necessarily wanting to build new resorts. They were keener on existing resorts for sale with some additional development opportunities.

“There is two that I am representing in the Whitsundays at the moment, one is day Daydream Island, we are pretty close to finalising a sale there.

“We have got four very, lets say close potential new owners, we are still going through the hoops in terms of not only due diligence but general assessments.

“Two of the clients that I have are actually Australian, which is interesting and the other two are Asian.’’

North Beach on Daydream Island in the Whitsundays, Queensland.